Mariners continue offensive slumber in series-ending loss

This has to rank as one of the worst series I’ve ever seen played by a Mariners team that still managed to win three of four. The Mariners at least have that going for them following today’s 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros because had they been facing a half-decent team instead of one on-pace for 109 defeats, Seattle would be on a 10-game losing streak.

Since last night’s first inning, the Mariners have gone 17 innings in a row without scoring — mustering up just seven singles since that time.

They were again held in-check by a left-handed starter today in Brett Oberholtzer, something that’s become all-too-common for the Mariners. They are hitting .226 off lefty starters this year with one strikeout every 3.9 at-bats compared to .248 with a strikeout every 4.3 at-bats facing right-handed starters.

“The right-handers need to step up, it’s as simple as that,’’ Wedge said of his hitters. “We’ve had our struggles against left-handers. And whenever that’s the case, your right-handers – whether they be switch-hitters or just straight right-handers – they’re the ones who have to do the damage.

“I feel like our left-handers hang in there pretty good, but our right-handers need to be doing better.’’

Yeah, we can sit here and gripe about the bunt coverage on that squeeze play in the eighth in which Nick Franklin should have covered first base. It was a rookie mistake and Franklin immediately copped to it afterwards.

Charlie Furbush also probably could have looked baserunner Jason Castro back to third base after that first attempted squeeze. But Furbush admitted afterwards he never expected the Astros to try a squeeze two pitches in a row — something that’s never happened to him.

But the bottom line is, the offense was awful the final two games of this series.

Franklin’s single in the fifth inning was the hardest ball his team has hit since Dustin Ackley’s triple in the eighth inning Friday night — also Seattle’s last extra-base hit.

Don’t let the three wins in four here by the Mariners fool you. If this level of play doesn’t pick up, it could get real ugly this week in Kansas City — even with Felix Hernandez going tomorrow.